Looking for good, cheap, long blooming flowers

[MikesChevelle]

so i have some john quills i believe, and they only lasted a few weeks, I have a few tulips that are doing ok. I have planted some bulbs but i have to wait till next year for the fruits of that labor. What I am looking for is something that i can plant that will bloom now and last for a good 5 months or so.

Maybe some annuals?

Thanks

[addictedtolandscaping]

We need to know where you are located in order to recommend anyhting. Hardiness zones are very particular. Example, here in NY the only thing ready are winter pansies and they will be dead in a few weeks. THe remaining annuals won;t come intoplay for about another month.

[MikesChevelle]

oh yeah sorry im in STL

[Newt*]

STL? Where's that? I live in Maryland in zone 7. How about your state and hardiness zone? Here's a zip code zone finder if you aren't sure.
http://www.gardenweb.com/zones/zip.cgi

Newt

[AmsoilPower]

STL stands for St. Louis, MO.

[Newt*]

St. Louis, MO is probably zone 6. For long blooming perennials consider:

Reblooming or everblooming (they are different) daylilies aka Hemerocallis. There are many, but here's one variety that are considered everblooming. It takes them time to mature enough to give you blooms all season long, so consider a wait of 3 years or more. They grow in full to part sun.
http://www.perennials.com/hea.html

There are also reblooming and everblooming iris, most of which are the tall bearded type. Most want full sun to perform well.

The hardy Geranium 'Rozanne' will bloom in my daughter's zone 7 garden from the end of May until hard frost. It will grow in part to full sun.

Native honeysuckle - Lonicera sempervirens with it's many named varieties will bloom on and off all season long from May until hard frost. They offer berries to the birds and nectar to the hummingbirds. Please don't plant the invasive Japanese honesuckle aka Lonicera japonica, Hall's honeysuckle, Lonicera purpurea.

For annuals in full sun consider the wave petunias. They come in pink pots and will bloom all season long without the need to deadhead.

Melampodium is another all season long bloomer with small yellow daisy-like flowers that doesn't need to be deadheaded.

For a shady garden Impatiens walleriana are a favorite with their bright colors and no need to deadhead. The 'Super Elfin' series stay a bit shorter and are very popular these days.

I'm sure others will have more suggestions.
Newt

[Newt*]

I almost forgot to add info about bulbs. You mentioned tulips and jonquils. Here's info on tulips and other bulbs that will perennialize and return year after year. Not all tulips will return each year.
http://www.slate.com/id/2138844/
http://www.theplantexpert.com/springbulbs/Perennial.html
http://www.bulb.com/templates/dispatcher.asp?page_id=snw_article_public&item=100&tg=public

Newt

[MikesChevelle]

sweet thanks

[Newt*]

You are very welcome!

Newt

[Gr1ffin]

Encore azaela's have multi blooms (3+) so instead of having flowers just in the spring you have them Srping-Fall. Of course its a shrub so you don't have to keep replanting every year like annuals.